Metal wheel and method of making the same



A. J. ADAMSv METAL WHEEL AND METHOD OF' MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb. 17. 1921 Patented Get. 2l, 1924.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR J. ADAMS, F BAY CITY, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COMPANY 0F BAY CITY, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

PATENT OFFICE.

METAL WHEEL AND METHOD 0F MAKING THE SAME.

Application iled February 17, 1921.

To all whom it may conce-m: f

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay City, inthe county of Bay and State of Michigan, have'invented a new and useful Improvement in Metal Wheels and Methods of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to the manufacture of metal wheels, and more es` pecially to the spokes and a method of manufacturing the same.

The primary object is to provide an im proved wheel embodying an improved spoke, and to provide also a method of manufacturing such spokes.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in whichof a wheel constructed in accordance With the invention; Fig. 2, a section taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a plan view of a sheet-metal blank employed in forming a spoke; Fig. 4, a view of the blank after it has been formed into U- shape crosssection and provided with a notch in the `web portion of the enlarged base; Fig. 5, a view of the spoke after the next forming op- `1l eration; and Fig. 6, a broken perspective view of the finished spoke.

In the construction illustrated, A represents the spokes of the wheel; B, a hub-barrel equipped with hub-plates B between 3;, which the base ends of the spokes are conlined; and. C, a wheel-rim which is provided with a series of einbossments l which tit within the outer ends of the tubular spokes.

Each of the spokes A is formed from a blank 2 of sheet-metal, this blank being provided with taper or convergent edges 2a and an enlarged base portion 2b. The lateral edges of the enlarged base portion are provided witli complemental recesses 3 which 4;, are adapted to form the walls of an approximately circular opening when the spoke is completed. The end edge of the base portion comprises a line 4 which is at right angles to the axis of the blank and lines 4a in the nature of bevels making very obtuse angles with the line 4. At the small end of the blank are provided recesses 5 which are disposed on opposite sides of the axis of the blank, leaving a small central projection 6 and outer projections 6*.

Fig. l represents a broken sectional view` Serial No. 445,616.

The blank shown in Fig. 3 is given a U- form cross-section of the form shown in Fig. 4 by means of isuitable dies. These dies produce the tapered web 7 which is of curved crosssection and the side walls or flanges 7a and also produce the web portion 8 of the enlarged base and the flanges 8a which form a continuation of the flanges 7a. After the sheet-metal member has been bent to the form shown in Fig. 4, or during the operation of stamping it to that form, if preferred, the web portion 8 has stamped therein a perforation 9 and an intersecting V-shape notch 9a whose side walls afford the bevel edges 9b.

After the blank has been brought to the condition shown in Fig. 4, the flanges 7 a and 8a are curved and bent towards each other, thus bringing the lateral taper edges Qa together approximately as indicated by the dotted line 2 in Fig. 5 and bringing the lateral edges of the base portion together at the points designated 3a. Thus, the fourth side of the tubular spoke is closed by bringing the lateral edges of the blank together. This leavesthe spoke at the stage' of formation illustrated in Fig. 5, the notch 9a being still open and a similar notch 9 being still open at the opposite side of the base portion of the spoke. The notch 9c has its walls formed by the edge portions 3b of the blank adjacent the recesses 3. By means of suitable dies, the side walls 8 are now pressed towards each other, thus closing the notches 9a and 9", and bringing the side walls 8* into position to form the bevel sides of the truncated arrowvheadof the spoke.'4

The" truncated arrowheads are adapted to be nested together in the hub of the wheel in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the bevels ai'orded by the inclined sides of the arrow-heads enabling the base portions of the Spokes to, be nested together and completely fill the space between the hub-plates B. The hub-plates are connected by bolts l0 which extend thru lthe openings 3 and 9 in the base portions of the spokes. In practice,l it will suiiice to ass bolts thru alternate spokes and thus t e s okes may be firmly clamped between the hu -plates The outer ends of the spokes fit over the embossments 1,with which the rim is provided at its inner cir ',mferential portion; and it will be observed that the recesses 5 at the small end of the spoke serve to accommodate lll) the convex portion of the rim, While the lengthened portions 6 and 6a embrace the convexity of the rim, as Will be readily understood from Fig. 1.

After the Wheel has been assembled, it may be dipped in japan, which will serveto close the joints. Thus a Wheel of exceedinglyv staunch construction and neat appearance may be produced in an inexpensive manner. Such Wheels are especially desirable for use in connection with baby carriages, go-carts, and other small vehicles, such as the Irish mail, etc. If desired, the Wheel may be made of heavier gage metal and employed for other vehicles requiring a stronger Wheel.

The improved Wheel is stronger and more durable than Wooden Wheels and less subject to deterioration from the weather; and the improved Wheel is vastly stronger and more durable than the wire Wheels now in use in connection With baby-carriages, etc., and can be produced so inexpensively as to enable the improved Wheel to be employed as a substitute for Wire Wheels.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The method of making a spoke which comprises forming a sheet-metal blank with an enlarged laterally recessed base and convergent lateral edges, stamping the blank into U-shape cross-section and notching the Web portion of the base at the end thereof, bending the anges to complete the tapered tubular portion of the spoke and form the fourth side ofthe enlarged base, and bending the sides of the enlarged base to inclined positions to form a taper extremity for the enlarged base.

2. The method of making a spoke which comprises forming a sheet-metal blank with an enlarged base and converfrent lateral edges, the lateral edges of the Ease portion being provided with curved recesses, stamping the blank into U-form cross-section and notching the web portion of the base and providing it with a perforation intersected y the notch, bending the flan es of the blank to complete the tapered tu ular portion of the spoke and form the fourth side of the enlarged base, and forcing the sides of the enlarged base towards each other to bring the edges of the notches together, thereby iving a taper extremity to the enlarged ase.

3. A Wheel-spoke comprising a tapered tubular portion and an enlarged base of truncated arrow-head form, said spoke being formed of sheet-metal bent into tubular form and having meeting edges at one side of the spoke, the base portion of the spoke having opposite perforations, one of said perforations being formed by complemental recesses in the lateral edges of the base portion of the blank and the metal of the web portion of the blank being notched to intersect the other perforation, said perforations having their Walls closed in the operation of forcing the side walls of the base portion of the s oke towards each other to form the incline sides of the truncated arrow-head base.

ARTHUR J. ADAMS. 

